Cessna 172G accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas, April 26, 2001
On April 26, 2001 at about 3:20 am local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3860L, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas (North Little Rock Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delayed go-around on landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2001 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- N. Little Rock, Arkansas · North Little Rock Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3860L · registry record · serial 17254029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine airplane was on final approach, and the pilot "flared too high" and experienced a high sink rate. The pilot applied power; however, it was "too late and the airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced." The airplane landed on the runway, veered off of the runway, and impacted trees. The pilot stated that he could have prevented the accident by "initiat[ing a] go-around sooner."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 279 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 221 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRT Crossett AR at 2:00 am
- Destination: 1M1 N. Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,462 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.